Okay, so my new (to me) 1981 Hobie 16's rudders have a machined piece of billet alluminum in place of the rudder cam. I've seen the cams in my buddies 1983, and my set up is nothing like his. My top casting piece is bolted to this aluminum piece where his has the adjustment screw on top. So this aluminum piece pivots there and where its rivoted in the bottom casting (where normally the cam would be). It all opperates the same as the regular system. Lift up and push back to drop the rudders, lift up and pull they come up. Even without the spring system they stay down unless they are given a decent amount of resistance (I.e. Running aground).

Is this something people have seen before? Has this ever been factory? I just don't know... I'll try and get some pictures of the situation. Sorry for my terrible discription. Thanks in advance for any help.

I know, right!? It functions just as well as my buddies cam setup, if not tighter(less slop)... I do know the original owner raced it for most of its lifetime. But I'd really like to know if anyone else has ever seen this before...

If it works really good for all things they are needed for, it will be well worth close examination of the design. Rudders need to be easy to lock down, and kick up, but stay locked down while sailing in any conditions. I've never had any problem operating, and maintaining the stock design, but cams do wear out.